A selection of reviews by SIOBHAN LONG
TOMMY SANDS WITH MOYA & FIONAN
Let the Circle Be Wilde Appleseed Recordings ***
Those with an appetite for delving deeper beneath the surface of once-opposing traditions will welcome this latest collection from Down singer-songwriter Tommy Sands. Recorded with his daughter Moya and son Fionán, Let the Circle Be Wideis an object lesson in the common ground that unites us, as well as a fleet-footed amble down the backwaters of our history. The opener, Young Man's Dream, is a refreshing reworking of the blighted Danny Boy, minus the pyrotechnics and with the emphasis, as Sands's erudite sleeve notes suggest, "on the surrender of the singer to the song rather than the other way around". A superb live outtake of the late fiddler Seán Maguire adds fireworks to what is an unforced collection, boosted modestly by the guitar and vocals of Moya and Fionán. www.tommysands.com
MICK, LOUISE & MICHELLE MULCAHY
Reelin' in Tradition Clo lar Chonnachta ****
You can't get any closer to the beating pulse of the tradition than this collection from the Mulcahys. Father and daughter trio Mick, Louise and Michelle have produced a characteristically low-key collection, free of unnecessary flourishes, but bathed in an intimate acquaintance with their diverse repertoire, and buoyed by Louise and Michelle's remarkable virtuosity in flute, fiddle, piano, concertina, harp and pipes. Michelle's harp playing is sublime on this collection, as the solo jig set,
Happy to Meet, Sorry to Partillustrates, with its timeless fluency and ease of execution. Louise's flute playing is equally impressive on the reel set,
Down the Broom, while Mick's accordion anchors the entire collection with quiet mastery. A slow-burning quality guarantees a long shelf life for this complex collection. www.cic.ie
Download tracks:
Down the Broom. The Home Ruler
